A Film Buff Travel Guide To Movie Destinations Around Australia & New Zealand

Oh sure there’s Hollywood or even Sydney’s Fox Studios, but there’s something inherently more exciting about being in real-world movie destinations that have featured in your fave film. Somewhere you can take a gander at without having to cough up for a studio tour. The best part is you don’t even have to take an international flight to get ‘on set’ of some of the biggest blockbusters. There’s plenty all around Australia and New Zealand.

12 Must-See Movie Destinations In Australia & New Zealand

1. Hobbiton Movie Set, NZ – The Lord Of The Rings

I mean, let’s just deal with the most obvious one first shall we? Not that it in any way lessens how amazing it would be to walk around the closest thing to an actual Hobbiton you’re ever going to get. And yeah sure, I’m a bit of a Lord Of The Rings fan – the books, not the movies, but still – but nerd or not, it CUTE! And yeah yeah it’s technically somewhere between a studio set and an IRL place but I’ll take that grey area and run with it.

2. Split Point Lighthouse, VIC – Round The Twist

Have you ever, ever felt like visiting the location for one of Australia’s most iconic kids shows? Well, you can. The kooky family lived in Split Point Lighthouse, which still stands and has been functioning as an unmanned, IRL lighthouse since 1919. This one’s for the 90s kids and hot damn if this still doesn’t get me the most excited of the whole list. If you want to go inside you’ll need to book a tour.

3. Cathedral Cove, NZ – The Chronicles Of Narnia

The naturally formed archway of Cathedral Cove was well worth of your Insta pics, even before it was made particularly famous by a feature in The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The cast obviously landed there by boat, which you can certainly do yourself by way of a range of boat tours, or even by hiring a kayak. Or you can take a 45-minute walk from Hahei Beach.

4. Mount Diogenes, VIC – Picnic At Hanging Rock

Just a day trip from Melbourne away, Mount Diogenes aka. Hanging Rock is still a pretty big pull thanks to Peter Weir’s 1975 Aussie mystery flick, Picnic At Hanging Rock. Look, even without the film history, it’s a pretty area with its mix of wildflowers and 6-million-year-old volcanic rock.

5. Paradise, NZ – Lord Of The Rings & The Hobbit Trilogy

Yeah look, thanks to Tolkien’s world being brought t the big screen basically all of New Zealand could be on this list (NB. that’s a huge exaggeration on my part). Just outside of Glenorchy on the South Island, Paradise is another of these locations. In particular, it’s where the mythical towns of Lothlorien, Amon Hen, and Isengard were filmed.

6. Karekare Beach, NZ – The Piano

Ok so it’s not quite Hollywood levels, but The Piano is a fab film and Karekare Beach in West Auckland is probably one of the most beautiful spots you could hope for when landing on New Zealand. Beyond the black sand beach and cliff faces surrounding it, it’s worth a trek into Waitakere Waterfall.

7. Queenstown, NZ – X-Men Origins: The Wolverine

I love me some Hugh Jackman. He brought the backstory of comic book character Wolverine to life with this film in 2009, which was mostly filmed in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. A lot of New Zealand scenes were in Dunedin, but plenty more were in Queenstown’s Deer Park Heights.

8. Broken Hill, NSW – Priscilla Queen Of The Dessert

Name a more iconic Aussie film, I’ll wait. There’s a few places made famous in this film, including Sydney’s Imperial Hotel, a place that still proudly proclaims it LGBTQI roots. But its fun to get out of town so I’ve picked Broken Hill. Remember that scene where the Drag trio walk into a bar and encounter the bigoted Aussie woman who made her gross opinions about gender norms be known and Bernadette sassed her right back into place? Yup, that was in Mario’s Palace in Broken Hill.

10. Kings Cross, NSW – Two Hands

Vintage Heath Ledger and a truly beautiful film that was shot in large part in Sydney’s iconic Kings Cross. There isn’t really anything that screams Sydney, but grungy, than the famous neon Coke sign.

11. Mundi Mundi Plains, NSW: Mad Max 2 & Priscilla Queen of the Desert

This desert expanse just outside of the already mentioned Broken Hill is basically your iconic Aussie desert shot. Which is probably why it was picked for a stunning backdrop in both Priscilla Queen of the Desert and the series that put Mel Gibson on the map, Mad Max 2.

12. Sydney, NSW – Mission Impossible 2

I’m just going to admit right now that I’m not an MI fan, or a Tom Cruise one for that matter, but I’m well aware it’s a classic and popular action film so yeah ok, I won’t let bias stop me from including it. Most of the film was shot around Sydney. We’re talking Randwick, Botany Bay (ok just outside Sydney but still), the 90s era high rise buildings Governor Macquarie Tower and Governor Phillip Tower. The list goes on.

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Forbes Travel Guide's 14 Top Destinations Of 2019

For a destination to officially be having “a moment,” it needs more going for it than mere festivals or a few restaurant openings. The city has to be experiencing a shift in the way it looks and feels. Maybe it’s posturing itself as a new cultural mecca with gallery or museum openings. It could be establishing itself on the epicurean radar with fresh food halls or eateries from top-notch chefs.

Those are the sorts of things that caught our Forbes Travel Guide editors’ eyes with the following cities. Some are traditional hot spots that somehow keep reinventing themselves. Others are new stops prepping for their first time in the spotlight. All are having monumental moments that are worthy of a visit in 2019.

Singapore

The spotlight shone on the country in 2018 with the release of Crazy Rich Asians and the Trump-Kim summit at Five-Star Capella Singapore. This year promises much more. Singapore celebrate its bicentennial with exhibits, festivals and a host of openings. Changi Airport will debut the Jewel complex, a glass-and-steel dome housing lush gardens, attractions (the world’s tallest indoor waterfall at 131 feet), shops, restaurants and more.

The Lion City also welcomes new properties (The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore), major reopenings (Raffles Singapore) and hot nightlife (Marina Bay Sands’ Marquee Singapore will have a full-sized Ferris wheel inside).

Hudson Yards, New YorkHUDSON YARDS, NEW YORK

Hudson Yards, New York

There’s always something going on in New York to capture our interest, but the 28-acre, multi-purpose Hudson Yards, the largest private real estate development in the country, has us fixated on Chelsea. The Shed is a dreamy architectural wonder featuring a theater, art galleries and more opening in April. The Shops at Hudson Yards, debuting in March, has nearly 100 retailers, including the city’s first Neiman Marcus. Still, June’s Equinox Hotel, a 200-plus-room first from the fitness brand with a restaurant, a SoulCycle and the biggest Equinox gym in the world, may be the biggest draw.

Williamsburg, Virginia

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first legislative assembly and other landmark occurrences, Colonial Williamsburg (and neighboring towns) has a slew of history-rich programs on the 2019 agenda. But not every story has a scholarly slant in these parts. Busch Gardens (Finnegan’s Flyer) and Water Country USA (Cutback Water Coaster) are debuting new rides. And, as always, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Williamsburg Innproves an ideal resting place for all the excitement.

California’s Central Coast

There’s just something about Carmel-By-The-Sea’s craggy coast that will forever make this corner of California a worthy stop. But with Pebble Beach Resorts celebrating its 100th birthday in grand style (complete room renovation across its three hotels, hosting the 2019 U.S. Open) and Santa Barbara taking its high-end hospitality up a few notches (the new Rosewood Miramar Beach, the renovated San Ysidro Ranch), we’re especially excited about the area right now.

Vietnam

Eclipsed by other Asian cities, Vietnam finally is getting its moment. Yes, the pho is always flavorful, the Buddhist pagodas remain breathtaking and the festivals continue to be vibrant. But add on some elevated experiences: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An’s new spa services (Visiting Masters and Mindful Moments initiatives); InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort’s basket boat piloting and lantern-making lessons; and Pullman Danang Beach Resort’s unique coffee-making class.

Grand Canyon

A pinnacle U.S. destination for adventurers and artists alike, this beloved national park marks its centennial on February 26. To commemorate the milestone, the landmark is hosting a year-long roster of cultural events and exhibits. Get an intimate look at this national treasure with L’Auberge de Sedona, which will send you out on a special 100th anniversary Pink Jeep tour for a 10-hour journey.

Le GuanahaniLE GUANAHANI

St. Barts

Hurricane Irma battered the French-Caribbean island, but it’s back. Most hotels have reopened: Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France added 19 rooms, Le Sereno has a new restaurant and an expanded spa with Valmont treatments, Hôtel Le Toiny incorporated eight new suites and a beachfront pool, and Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa debuted rooftop bar Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot.

Later this year, Le Guanahani will wrap up restoring the property to its original charm, and also will reveal more beachfront suites and a new restaurant. Eden Rock - St. Barths will unveil three new suites, a reimagined Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant and the new Rémy Room and Bar.

Partake in all of the usual St. Barts activities: dining (Bonito and Bagatelle are open), yachting (St. Barts Bucket Regatta, March 21-24; Les Voiles de St. Barth, April 14-20) and, of course, carousing at Nikki Beach.

IstanbulISTOCK_EXPLORA_2005

Istanbul

The Turkish capital is modernizing its cultural offerings in 2019 by breaking ground on a brand-new Atatürk Cultural Center. The reimagined, multi-million-dollar complex is expected to include a movie theater, exhibition space, a rooftop restaurant and the state-of-the-art, 2,500-seat Istanbul Opera House when it reopens in 2021.

To accommodate adoring fans, the city offers opulent overnight options (Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Raffles Istanbul) and also will debut the world’s largest airport in March, projected to welcome 200 million visitors annually.

San DiegoJOANNEDIBONA/SANDIEGO.ORG

San Diego

The SoCal city hits many milestones in 2019: it’s the 250th anniversary of San Diego’s birthplace, the 50th season for the Padres, the 50th anniversary of Comic-Con and the inaugural year for the ANOC World Beach Games (October 9-15), which melds beach, surf and extreme sports into one competition.

Yet what has us most excited to visit is its rise as an up-and-coming foodie city. Fine-dining stalwarts like Five-Star Addison Restaurant and Four-Star Veladora have been impressing for years, but an influx of new foodie spots is finally capturing people’s appetites. Taiwanese xiao long baopurveyor Din Tai Fung recently brought its beloved soup dumplings to town, and spring will see the debut of both chef Michael Mina’s barbecue-centric International Smoke and celebrity chef Akira Back’s modern Japanese restaurant Lumi.

We can’t discuss San Diego’s culinary explosion without mentioning its strong craft beer scene. Get a taste of it at Pendry San Diego’s Nason’s Beer Hall.

Six Senses Zighy Bay ResortSIX SENSES ZIGHY BAY RESORT

Muscat, Oman

A hidden gem in the Middle East, Oman’s picturesque capital is earning its place in the sun with a host of luxury hotel (Six Senses Zighy Bay Resort, The Chedi Muscat) and monumental museum (The National Museum) debuts in recent years.

And thanks to the grand opening of the 6.2 million-square-foot passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport in November 2018, more visitors than ever can experience this historic hideaway for themselves.

Perth’s Elizabeth Quay BridgeTOURISM AUSTRALIA

Perth

Exciting things are happening Down Under, thanks to an array of recent urban development in Western Australia’s capital. Last year saw the grand opening of Yagan Square (part park, dining destination, art display and transportation hub) and the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium.

And in 2019, brand-new foodie fest Western Australia Gourmet Escape (an expanded edition of Margaret River Gourmet Escape) will extend into Swan Valley wine country and Perth for a 10-day culinary celebration (November 8-17). After you finish sampling and sipping, head over to the region’s premier destination resort, Crown Towers Perth, to recharge overnight.

The Rijksmuseum NBTC HOLLAND MARKETING

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The Best Times to Visit Australia for Perfect Weather and Cheap Flights

Australia is one of the world’s biggest countries, so when to go depends entirely on where you’re going. From the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, to the vineyards scattered across the country, to Sydney’s sprawling beaches, Australia has something to offer every type of traveler.

Here's the best time of year to see all of Australia's greatest sights and attractions. 

The Best Months to Visit Australia 

When You'll Get the Best Weather

Seasons in Australia are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, with summer from December through February, and winter from June through August. The exact type of weather you'll experience depends largely on the region.

Darwin, in the Northern Territory, sees temperatures in the high seventies during the winter and can have no rainfall at all, but summers are extremely hot, with serious downpours.

In southern Australia, like Adelaide and Melbourne, summer temperatures often hover in the low seventies, and winters are cool. Pack a few sweaters as well as a pieces for warmer weather, no matter the time of year.

The Best Times to Visit the East Coast

Australia’s East Coast is usually considered the stretch from Cairns, in the north, to Melbourne, in the south, and is the most convenient area to get to from the United States. It’s also incredibly vast — travelers could easily spend more than 40 hours driving top to bottom, with no traffic and no stops, so the weather and scenery vary.

The Best Times to Visit the Great Barrier Reef

Up north, the Great Barrier Reef tends to be warm year-round, and in the summer temperatures can rise to nearly 90 degrees, with plenty of tropical rain. Here, wet season comes in the summer and spring, which slows the stream of tourists. While this may not be the ideal time to visit Australia's famous reefs for weather, it's preferable for travelers interested in avoiding crowds.

The Best Times to Visit the Gold Coast

About an hour’s drive from Brisbane is the Gold Coast, and it's known for having beautiful weather most of the year. (A particularly popular Gold Coast beach destination is Surfers Paradise.) More than 500 miles south of the Gold Coast is Sydney, a cultural center famous for beautiful beaches including Coogee, Manly, and Bondi. Temperatures in the winter are slightly chilly, with some rain. If a beach holiday is on your agenda, summer is perfect, as temperatures are warm. 

The Best Times to Visit Australia’s Beaches

From Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with its iconic pool set just above the sea, to the bright, white sand and turquoise waters of the Whitsundays Islands, Australian beaches are hard to beat. The best way to decide which to visit? Follow the weather.

It’s important to note that just because there’s a beach doesn’t mean you can go swimming. Some places have saltwater crocodiles, box jellyfish, or other creepy ocean critters. Pay attention to signage and ask locals if you have any doubts.

Still, don’t let a fear of sharks factor into your plans. Rodd Stapley, Shark Expert for Taronga Zoo, told Travel + Leisure the safest season to avoid sharks can vary each year due to changes in the environment. But these risks are small. Taronga Conservation Society Australia has studied shark attack patterns and — over the last 50 years — there’s been fewer than one unprovoked attack annually, an average. To minimize risks, Stapley recommends swimming in ocean pools or netted beaches, and between lifeguard flags.

A bigger risk to swimmers and even waders at Australian beaches are riptides, which are common here. Learn the signs, including dark water and fewer waves breaking. Only swim between the flags on lifeguarded beaches, and if you do get caught in a rip, swim parallel to the shoreline to get out of it.

The Best Months to Visit Australia's Wine Country

From Hunter Valley, in New South Wales, to Swan Valley, slightly north of Perth, there are more than 60 wine regions scattered across the country. It’s easy to find good wine no matter the time of year, but if you’re trying to make Pinots and Sauvignons the main event, many regions hold wine festivals. Late autumn is a popular time for harvest festivals, so plan to visit in April, May, or early June.

The Worst Times to Visit Australia 

Generally, it’s best to avoid the south’s chilly winters and the far north’s hot, wet summers.

But crowds are also a consideration. Students get a break from mid-December until late January (or even early February), which means packed beaches and more expensive domestic airfare. Australia is a popular backpacker destination, so tourist favorites tend to be busy anyway, but book your trip in late spring or early autumn to strike a balance between great weather and manageable crowds.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Australia 

It has to be said: there’s no truly cheap time to visit the Antipodes. December and January tend to be most expensive, likely due to holiday travel and the prime summer weather. According to data from Skyscanner, the cheapest months to travel to Sydney from New York City and Los Angeles are March and June, respectively. New York City to Melbourne is cheapest in February, while flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne are less expensive August. (Looking at hotel room rates provided by Booking.com, Melbourne is also cheap in January.)

If you have flexibility on timing, plan well in advance to find the best deals. If you have less flexibility on schedule but more on destination, try searching a few cities internally and looking at local budget airlines, like Jetstar, to get around once you’re in Australia.

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Your guide to passport price rises

If you’re travelling overseas, you’ve got to have it, and now you have to pay more for it.

Fees for Australian passports increased on January 1.

It now costs $293 for a 10-year adult passport.

AUSTRALIAN PASSPORT PRICES
Passport fees were increased from January 1, 2019.
Ten-year passport for people aged 16 and over: $293.
Five-year passport for children under 16 years and people aged 75 and over: $148.
Emergency passport overseas: $184.
Replacement passport: $184.
Priority processing fee: $215.
Adult overseas surcharge: $132.
Child overseas surcharge: $64.
More information at passports.gov.au and smarttraveller.com.au

What the others cost
UK

A standard 34-page passport is $137 (£75.50) for adults (16 and over) when applied for online.
NZ

A standard adult passport costs $171 ($NZ180). An urgent passport costs $342 ($NZ360).
USA

A US passport is $263 ($US145) for adults and $208 ($US115) for children 16 and younger.
World’s best passports

The world’s best passport is that of the UAE, when ranked for countries that can be entered visa-free (113), with visa on arrival (54) and needing a visa (31), according to Passport Index.

Passport Index rates the top most powerful passports:

1 United Arab Emirates.

2 Germany.

3rd equal Singapore, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, France, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, South Korea, USA.

The Australian passport is ranked equal seventh.

BALI BEWARE
Bali-bound travellers are still being advised to make sure their passports are in good condition or face the possibility of being refused boarding in Perth.

Indonesia is cracking down on damaged passports as part of wider measures against the use of illegal travel documents.

With the Indonesian government threatening to fine airlines that allow travellers with damaged passports to fly, carriers are being cautious with the amount of damage acceptable remaining unclear.

The warning comes after a British couple were denied entry to Bali in October while travelling with a passport that had been chewed by their dog.

A man with a slightly damaged passport was also stopped from boarding a flight on Christmas Day in Perth.

FAQ
Do I need six months validity left on my passport before I can travel from and then re-enter Australia?

“Your passport is valid from the date it is issued until the date it expires. You can use it throughout this period, subject to meeting the visa and immigration requirements of the countries you wish to visit or transit. Some foreign governments require visitors to carry passports with at least six months validity beyond their planned stay. You may be refused entry if you do not comply. Well before you travel, you should check the entry requirements of the countries you plan to visit or transit. Contact the foreign diplomatic and consular representatives of the country you wish to visit in Australia, or seek advice from your travel agent.”

For more information visit passports.gov.au.

SOUTH AFRICA WITH KIDS
Travellers flying to South Africa should also be sure to have the correct documentation.

South African law requires unaccompanied minors and children travelling with adults who are not their legal guardian to carry an unabridged birth certificate which shows their parents’ details, as well as the child’s own passport, for visits to South Africa.

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How Tourism Australia’s Super Bowl LII Spot Reaped Rewards for an Entire Country

Imagine you’re a marketer trying to convince your board of directors that the massive cost of a 60-second Super Bowl spot is a smart investment. Now imagine that you need to convince an entire government and the Australian taxpaying public.

In this world of programmatic efficiencies, it can be difficult for any advertiser to justify the significant investment required to participate in the Big Game. The pressure is compounded for smaller advertisers that might be redirecting a year’s worth of budget toward a single moment.

When Tourism Australia came to Droga5 with a need to drive bookings and an appetite for maximizing their reach via the Super Bowl, we knew they’d need more than a great piece of creative that would get people talking. We needed to convert that conversation into action and get Americans to visit Australia. “Dundee” was more than a compelling creative idea—it was a full campaign orchestrated to drive maximum impact for Tourism Australia.

The following strategies were key to making “Dundee” Tourism Australia’s most successful campaign ever.

Start thinking beyond the spot

With their massive reach, Super Bowl ads are most effective at driving broad awareness, but they’re not always known for moving consumers down the funnel. However, when marketers consider a Super Bowl ad the linchpin of a larger system of work, it’s possible for the full campaign to deliver true impact for a brand and even deliver against lower-funnel metrics.

The “Dundee” campaign began two weeks prior to the game. With each piece of content that was released online, we gathered a qualified audience that was retargeted after the Super Bowl with performance assets meant to drive booking. While the television spot was compelling on its own and drove interest around Australia as a destination, the full system of work ensured that the Super Bowl investment would pay off in a meaningful way for Tourism Australia.

Bring back the element of surprise

The importance of online views, including those from YouTube and Facebook, as a Super Bowl success metric have incentivized advertisers to release their spots early. Though it can raise views, this strategy is degrading the one moment a year when consumers actively seek out ads. In 2018, breakthrough spots from Tide, the NFL and others showed that an early advantage isn’t the only way to ensure a post-game victory.

Tourism Australia’s strategy of releasing unbranded teaser videos prior to the game allowed us to accumulate views against several pieces of content as well as let consumers see something new during the Super Bowl. By including no mention of Tourism Australia, we drove further intrigue around the in-game spot while also adding to our audience pool for retargeting. Viewers returned to the teasers after our reveal to see how the narrative came together, deepening their connection to the work. Effective use of teasers can preserve the element of surprise without sacrificing online views.

Rethink your social strategy

Social approaches to the Super Bowl have evolved. Creating a second screen experience has become the norm, making it difficult to win on Twitter with just a war room and a few topical tweets. A social strategy should be inherent to the larger idea. Winning on social isn’t about what the brand posts during the game; it comes from an ad that drives organic social conversation.

The rollout strategy for “Dundee” was designed to optimize that conversation over the full Super Bowl time frame. Our celebrity-driven PR approach started two weeks before the game and immediately began driving buzz and speculation. We got the whole internet working to solve the “Dundee” puzzle, and it paid off in conversations across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit. Tourism Australia became one of the most talked-about advertisers before the game, and that was without officially confirming our involvement.

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Airbnb calls for 'light touch' rules on WA hosts, saying current regulations stifle tourism growth

Accommodation provider Airbnb is advocating for minimal regulation of most of the properties on its website, arguing a heavy-handed approach would act as a handbrake on tourism growth in Western Australia.

Airbnb executives made the comments during hearings by the WA Parliament's Economics and Industry Standing Committee into regulation of short-stay accommodation in the state.

They told committee members their business model helped host families make ends meet, made travel more affordable, created local jobs and increased tourism to WA — often in areas that normally had few visitors.

It was in part a rebuttal to the Tourism Council of WA, which last week gave evidence that Airbnb, and similar businesses, were costing the state's economy hundreds of millions of dollars a year because fewer regulations meant properties on those sites were cheaper than hotels.

It called for a ban on residential homes or apartments being listed on sites like Airbnb if the owner did not live there, and for a state register of all other short-stay accommodation, with requirements to meet basic standards.

The council condemned what it called "an uneven playing field".

Airbnb today said it backed "fair and progressive" rules, with only "light touch" regulations for the majority of its hosts, who shared the home in which they lived.

The company's head of public policy, Brent Thomas, proposed uniform statewide rules and a system of "sliding regulation", depending on the nature of the property.

"The regulation you need for a two-bedroom home here in WA should be very different from the sort of regulation you need for a 200-bedroom international hotel," Mr Thomas said.

"The way you regulate a car is different from the way you regulate a semi-trailer."

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Tourism New Zealand takes cheeky swipe at MLA's New Australia-Land campaign

Tourism New Zealand has weighed in on the MLA’s recent proposal to merge Australia and New Zealand with a cheeky website promoting New Zealand.

The site, which combines the MLA’s suggested ‘New Australia-Land’ with Tourism New Zealand’s iconic tagline to create '100% Pure New Australia-Land', features “all the best parts” of the merged nation.

“We felt the people of New Zealand needed to respond to such a proposition, so we packaged all of the best bits of New Australia-Land into one place. They all just happen to be in New Zealand” said Andrew Waddel, Australian general manager of Tourism New Zealand.

The site pokes fun of Australian stereotypes to promote New Zealand travel destinations and experiences. It also celebrates New Zealand’s lamb industry, pointing out how the country's North Island resembles a lamb chop.

Tourism New Zealand has also enlisted the national airline Air New Zealand for the campaign, with the airline offering deals for Aussies to travel to New Zealand.

The campaign was created by TBWA\Sydney.

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Chinese mobile payments company Alipay and Tourism Australia will pilot a new city service in Sydney

Chinese mobile payments company Alipay and Tourism Australia will pilot a new city service in Sydney to promote leading tourist and retail destinations to Chinese tourists, throughout the Chinese New Year festive period in early February.

The Sydney City Card will introduce Chinese tourists to sights and activities in hotspots around the city, and provides special geotargeted promotions in key areas such as The Rocks, Darling Harbour, the Sydney Fish Market, Sydney Airport, Westfield Sydney, and Sydney Chinatown.

The interactive mobile map will operate through the Alipay app, which together with its regional partners has more than one billion users worldwide.

In Australia, tens of thousands of merchants accept Alipay, with more than one hundred leading retailers and tourist destinations such as BridgeClimb Sydney, the Sydney Aquarium, and Captain Cook Cruises involved in the Sydney City Card pilot.

The pilot program will run for 12 months, and launched ahead of the Chinese New Year week-long holiday in February.

“The Sydney City Card pilot is an innovative approach to engaging with our largest tourist market, and provides Australia with a critical advantage over other regional tourist hotspots during this peak annual travel period,” said Country Manager of Alipay, Australia and New Zealand, George Lawson.

“Chinese tourists will be able to access recommendations on what to see, where to shop and how to get around, all within an app they are familiar with and while being offered their preferred payment method around the city,” Lawson said.

“Providing this tailored and convenient customer experience is critical to maintaining and enhancing Australia’s reputation as a leading international tourist destination for Chinese travellers.”

Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan said, “Lunar New Year is an increasingly important time of the year for Australian tourism. We’re seeing more and more of China’s emerged and emerging high value travellers looking to use this key holiday break as an opportunity to travel overseas and to popular wish list destinations such as ours.”

According to O’Sullivan, the new generation of free and independent Chinese traveller has extremely high demands of an overseas destination, and a big part of meeting those expectations is around convenience and being made to feel welcome.

“We know the huge importance that Chinese travellers attach to Alipay as a preferred and trusted mobile payment system, and I have every confidence that the added value they’ll receive from the new Sydney City Card will prove hugely popular, by making the on-the- ground holiday experience easier and more engaging.”

The Sydney City Card program will run concurrently with a similar initiative in Queenstown, New Zealand, with the potential for expansion into other major tourist destinations in Australia and New Zealand in the near future.

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Tourism Ministry promotes Wonderful Indonesia in four Australian cities

The Tourism Ministry is currently participating in the Flight Centre World Travel Expo, a travel exhibition hosted by Flight Centre, one of the largest retail travel outlets in Australia.

The travel expo is being held in various cities across Australia, including Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne. According to kompas.com, the ministry is taking part in the expo in four cities, namely Sydney on Feb. 2-3, Melbourne and Perth on Feb. 9-10, and Brisbane on Feb. 16-17. These cities were chosen as the largest numbers of Australian travelers visiting Indonesia come from there.

The ministry has invited 12 travel agents and companies to join the expo. During the exhibition, the agencies are given the opportunity to offer various travel packages directly to visitors.

In addition to promoting Indonesian tourism, the ministry is also showcasing traditional arts, such as the Cendrawasih dance from Bali and Bajidor Kahot from West Java, giving visitors a chance to get a closer look at Indonesian culture.

Besides the expo, the ministry is hosting business meetings with Australian travel agencies with at least 80 entrepreneurs confirming their attendance in each city.

Indonesian Consul General in Sydney Heru Hartanto Subolo, who attended the opening day in Sydney, stated his hope that the ministry’s participation in the expo could help in learning more about Australian tourists' needs and interests, allowing the travel agents to offer travel packages suitable for their target audiences.

He also encouraged Indonesia to engage in further collaboration with Flight Centre.

“As a representative of the Indonesian government, I encourage a closer partnership between tourist industries, so the target of 1.5 million tourists from Australia can be achieved,” said Heru. (jes/wng)

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Tourism Australia to test pilot 12-month payment program for tourists

Alipay and Tourism Australia have announced today that Sydney will be the pilot city for a new service to promote leading tourist and retail destinations to Chinese tourists, ahead of the Chinese New Year festive period in early February.

The Sydney City Card will introduce Chinese tourists to sights and activities in hotspots round the city and provide special geotargeted promotions in key areas such as The Rocks, Darling Harbour, the Sydney Fish Market, Sydney Airport, Westfield Sydney and Sydney Chinatown.

The interactive mobile map will operate through the Alipay app, which together with its regional partners has more than one billion users worldwide.

In Australia, tens of thousands of merchants accept Alipay, with more than one hundred leading retailers and tourist destinations involved in the Sydney City Card pilot.

The pilot program will run for 12 months, and launches ahead of the Chinese New Year week-long holiday in February, which will see 40 million Chinese travel including seven million heading overseas – with Australia among the leading destinations.

Alipay ANZ country manager George Lawson said the pilot program will provide Australia with a critical advantage over other tourist destinations.

“The Sydney City Card pilot is an innovative approach to engaging with our largest tourist market, and provides Australia with a critical advantage over other regional tourist hotspots during this peak annual travel period

“Chinese tourists will be able to access recommendations on what to see, where to shop and how to get around, all within an app they are familiar with and while being offered their preferred payment method around the city.

“Providing this tailored and convenient customer experience is critical to maintaining and enhancing Australia's reputation as a leading international tourist destination for Chinese travellers.”

Alipay has also recently partnered with major financial institutions including Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Tyro making its platform available via their proprietary technology.

A 2018 Nielsen study found 99% of Chinese tourists had the Alipay app installed on their mobile phone.

A 2019 Nielsen survey of 1,244 overseas merchants found that nearly 60% of those that adopted Alipay saw a subsequent growth in both foot traffic and revenue.

China is Australia's largest and most valuable tourism market, accounting for 81% of the growth in tourism spending in Australia in the last 12 months and for 27% of total spend by international visitors.

More than 1.4 million Chinese tourists travelled to Australia in the year ending November 2018 (YoY growth of 6.2%), and spent mot than $11.5 billion (YoY growth of 12%).

The Sydney City Card program will run concurrently with a similar initiative in Queenstown, New Zealand with the potential for expansion into other major tourist destinations in Australia and New Zealand in the near future.

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Australian Traveller launches US magazine for Tourism Australia

Australia will include stories on the country’s capital cities and key sites, like Kakadu, as well a guides to all of the cities and a map at the back of the magazine. The first edition explores The Great Barrier Reef, The Kimberley and a feature on how to understand the Australian Outback. Currently, there are plans to make the magazine a bi-annual product.

At the same time, Tourism Australia has launched a broader content hub. Australian Traveller and Tourism Australia have engaged 18 advertisers for the magazine, including United Airlines, One and Only Wolgan Valley, Park Hyatt Sydney and Tourism Gold Coast.

Jane Whitehead, regional general manager Americas, Tourism Australia, said she was pleased to produce the “compelling” and “authentic” magazine.

“We’re proud to launch the first official Australia magazine, a showcase of incredible Australian experiences spanning unique accommodations, urban culture to wilderness adventures and more,” Whitehead said.

“In collaborating with Australian Traveller, we set out to tell quintessentially Aussie travel stories, while highlighting some of the finest hospitality product, in a way that compels travellers to book memorable vacations. We worked with Australian Traveller’s managing director Quentin Long to commission the best, most passionate team of writers to share their perspectives on a diverse array of destinations Down Under.” 

“Through targeted distribution of the magazine in airline lounges across the US, as well as promotions to encourage consumers and trade to order the magazine for complimentary mailing or digital download, we’re excited to see Australia inspire many unforgettable trips.”

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